Collapsible core



T. MIDGLEY, Sn.

COLLAPSIBLE CORE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 19. 1919.

"*1 zgdgg -qm, Patented June 21, 1921.

2 SHEET$SHEET l- @M zd A TTORNE Y.

T. MIDGLEY, SR.

COLLAPSIBLE CORE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 19. m9.

1,382,007, Patented June 21, 1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- awuem toz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS MIDGLEY, SR.,-OF WORTHINGTON, onro, nssrenon To THE FISK RUBBER COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

GOLLAI'SIBLE CORE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 21" 1921 Application filed March 19, 1919. Serial No. 283,533.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, THOMAS MIDGLEY, S12, a citizn of the United States, residing at Worthin ton, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Cores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible cores such as are used in the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings.

The main object of my invention resides in a structure whereby the segmental sections constituting the annular core may be held in assembled relation without the. use of screws or bolts, but instead, aholding structure is utilized which may be readily and conveniently assembled and disassembledj by the operator or user in an expeditious and time saving manner.

In this connection, my invention also resides in the combination with a plurality of core sections shaped to form an annulus, of means for exerting an expansive influence upon these assembled sections, the latter being shaped and arranged to retain their annular form because of said expansive influence. More specifically, my invention takes the formof a combination of a peculiar type of joint structure between abutting ends of the core sections with the means for exerting an expansible influence as already stated, the abutting ends of the sections being shaped to interlock so as to prevent separation of the sections circumferentially and also to prevent their lateral lay. p p The preferred embodiment of myinvention is. shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and in which, v

Figure 1 is a. view illustrating an assembled core constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view illustrating one of the split ends of the expansion ring in its applied position,

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the ad jacent ends of the expansion ring with the removable key structure in position,

Fig. 4: is a section taken on line 4=4 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through a modified form of the core assembling structure.

. In these figures, the core is represented as belng formed of a plurality of sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, which sections. are segmental in form to present an annulus when in properly assembled relation. They are also proportioned tobe approximately of the same size for convenience in removal from a completed tlre casing, the section 1 being shaped to form a key piece and is therefore the first to be removed which would be inwardly. The abutting ends of each of the sectionsare faced by means of plates 5 and 6 as is customary but in my present invention, these abutting ends are also given a peculiar shape and may be united with the section ends in any manner desired, as for instance, by casting the metal onto these plates as claimed 1n certain of my preceding patents. In this instance, the particular shape of these core ends is of such nature that circumferential separation between sections is impossible under the expansive influence of the ring structure to be presently described and it is also such that lateral-shifting of the various sections is rendered impossible. The former as well. as the laterally shifting feature is accomplished by means of a plug and socket structure carried intermediate the legs of the face plates, these face plates being of substantially Z shape as shown. For instance, both endsof the section 1 are providedwith plug or hump formations 7 which project outwardly and are disposed centrally between the side walls of the assembledcore and these plugs are shaped to fit corresponding sockets 8 formed in the cooperating ends of thesections 2 and? Likewise, the re:

maining abutting ends of the other sections are similarly formed as is shown. By this arrangement, shifting, of the coresections laterally is rendered impossible and likewise their circumferential separation is rendered impossible when their inner edgesare under the influence of an expansive element.

This expansive element, I have shown in the form of a split spring ring 9 provided 011 its outer surface with a groove 10 designed to properly fit the base 11 of the various core sections. Also, this ring is of a size to properly fit the interior diameter of the core and is locked in such position by means of the key structure shown at 12 whose edges are V shaped to fit corresponding V shaped grooves 13 in the ring ends. The sides of the ring are also beveled as shown at 14 to assist in conveniently assembling the ring, the base of the bevel being preferably terminated to present a diameter approximately equaling the diameter of that presented by the assembled core sections or in other words, being substantially flush with the base of the groove 10.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, it will be apparent that the particular shape of the core ends is such as will prevent lateral play between'sections when these various sections are properly assembled and likewise,"under the outward or expansive pressure exerted by means of the spring ring 9, these sections are prevented from falling apart or separating circumferentially. This is all accomplished by the plug and socket'structures between section ends as already related. By this arrangement, a type of collapsible core is formed which requires a minimum manipulation and time in assembling and disassembling. This is particularly true because of the absence ofany screws or bolts in holding the parts together. a 1 In the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the core sections" are held in assembled relationbymeansof an endless tap'ered expansion ring 15 which is adapted to be brought into wedged relation with correspondingly tapered surface 16 formed upon the inner portions of the core sections.

i It is obviousin this form that the ring 15 may be simply inserted into engagement with the core sections after the latter have beenassembled, and by wedging the same therein, said sections will be securely locked in their assembled relation. The ring 15 applies uniform pressure upon all points of the core structure andfdispenses with the service of thekey structure -12.'

I -VVhat I claim is: 1.Afcollap sible corehaving a plurality of separate sections having their abutting surfaces'shaped to provide portions extending substantially circumferentially, interfitting connections located in said circumferential'portions and adapted to resist separation of the sections in a circumferential direction, and means whereby said connections are strained in a circumferential direction.

2. A collapsiblecore as claimed IlIl: claim 1, in which the straining means comprises a member adapted to engage the inner periphery of the sections and exert an expansive force thereon.

3. A collapsible core as claimed in claim 2,

in which the expanding member comprises a split ring and a wedge adapted to expand the ring. r

4. A collapsible core comprising a plurality of core sections to form an annulus, a ring structure having a circumferential groove into which the inner portions of said core sections fit, and means for expanding said ring structure in said annulus, the abutting ends of said sections being shaped to interlock to hold said sections assembled un der, the expansive influence of said ring structure. r

5. In a collapsible core,'a plurality of core sections shaped to form an annulus, the

abutting ends of said sections interfitting and being of substantially Z shape, the cooperating ends of said sections having their intermediate portions between the legs of said 2 shape formed with plug and socket formations, said formations being confined to the space betweenthe outside walls of the annulus, an expansible split spring ring structure shaped to fit the inside of said annulus, and a removable key structure for locking said ring in position in said annulus.

6. In a collapsible core, a plurality of core sections shaped to form an annulus, the abutting ends of said sections interfitting a d being of substantially Z shape, the cooperatingends of said sections having their intermediate portions'between the legs'of'said Z shape formed with plug and socket forma- 

